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Is Apple Really Technology’s Privacy King?

When it comes to privacy and security when you’re online, who’s got your back? Google? LOL. Facebook? Puhleeze. Amazon? Seriously? Look at the business model and you get an idea.

Online users have lost already the war on privacy and security. To whom? To the forces of free software, and free social media networks, and advertisers who make it all possible for free. Where does Apple stand? Friend? Or, foe?

Talk Is Cheap

As much as I want to put Apple into a different category than Google, Facebook, Amazon, et al, we have to recognize reality. Perception is reality, and one can perceive Apple as the kinig of privacy, right? Then why does Apple accept billions from Google each year to make the search engine giant– the world’s greatest privacy abuse sinner– the default on Safari for Mac, iPhone, and iPad?

How is that stance not collusion?

Hey, wait. Didn’t Apple just smack both Google and Facebook upside the head for such abuses? No. And, yes. Sara Salinas:

Apple… revoked the enterprise developer licenses of Facebook and Google, temporarily disabling internal employee-only apps, after reports that each company had side-loaded apps onto Apple’s operating system that violated the company’s rules.

No harm, no foul, but both Google and Facebook heard the shot across the bow, and they listen to Apple head honcho Tim Cook snipe at both companies for their use of private data culled from users of free software.

Facebook exec Pedro Canahuati:

Our relationship with Apple is really important — many of us use Apple products at work every day, and we rely on iOS for many of our employee apps, so we wouldn’t put that relationship at any risk intentionally.

Somebody did that intentionally.

Look, compared to Windows, macOS is a paradise with far fewer outbreaks of malware, but the Mac runs Google Chrome and Facebook, and nothing on the Mac prevents either and others from tracking a user’s online whereabouts.

We humans that traverse the interwebs need someone to be a protector of security and privacy. If not Apple, whom? Or, is it who? I get those mixed up. As much as Apple crows about being a harbinger of privacy– relative to the Windows and Android world, and by comparison, Google and Facebook– I fear that Apple does more talking the talk than walking the walk.

Why is Google the default search engine on Safari?

Money.

Why doesn’t Safari (or, by extension, iOS and macOS) have a one-click button on the toolbar which stops all trackers?

Money.

Google, Facebook, Amazon, and others track users online because that’s the business model. It’s life or death for them to track users, gather data, then manipulate users through advertising and promotions.

Apple doesn’t need to track customers and monetize it in the same way, of course, but Tim Cook’s grossly rich company doesn’t mind a few more billions in free money by giving customers a choice to choose wisely, or not.

Apple might be more of a leader and advocate for privacy and security than the competition, and certainly more so than Google, Facebook, or Amazon, but the company knows how to make a quick buck with lip service.

5G? Meh!

About Jack Miller

I work for a US technology company in St. Louis, MO, and switched from Windows PCs to the Mac 25 years ago. My wife said it would improve our marriage, give us more friends, and reduce stress. I guess that two out of three isn't bad. Read more of my articles here.